An image apparatus capable of improving a frame rate to prevent resolution in the predetermined area from decreasing and forming image signals outside the predetermined area has an area sensor in which a plurality of pixels is arranged in a matrix, a drive circuit unit, a read out circuit unit and a processing unit processing signals transferred from the read out circuit unit. The drive circuit unit and the read out circuit unit perform a first operation in which signals are simultaneously read out from N pixels in a first area of the area sensor (where N is an integer equal to one or more) and a second operation in which signals are simultaneously read out from M pixels in a second area except the first area of the area sensor (where M is an integer equal to two or more and always greater than N), the first and second read out operations are continuously performed in one frame period, and a first and a second signal obtained by the first and the second read out operations are continuously transferred from the read out circuit unit to the processing unit.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. An imaging apparatus comprising: an area sensor in which a plurality of pixels are arranged in a matrix, the pixels including conversion elements for converting incident radiation or light into electric charge; a drive circuit unit for supplying a drive signal to a plurality of drive wirings arranged in a column direction, wherein each of the drive wirings is connected commonly to a plurality of pixels arranged in a row direction; a read out circuit unit for reading out signals from the pixels through a plurality of signal wirings arranged in the row direction, wherein each of the signal wirings is connected commonly to the plurality of pixels arranged in the column direction; and a processing unit processing signals transferred from the read out circuit unit, wherein N is an integer of one or more, M is an integer of two or more and always greater than N, the drive circuit unit and the read out circuit unit perform a first operation in which signals are simultaneously read out from N pixels in a first area of the area sensor and a second operation in which signals are simultaneously read out from M pixels in a second area except the first area of the area sensor, the first and the second read out operations are continuously performed in a period while signals for one frame are read out from pixels of the area sensor, and a first signal obtained by the first read out operation and a second signal obtained by the second read out operation are continuously transferred from the read out circuit unit to the processing unit.
2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first read out operation is continuously performed after the second read out operation in the period, and the first signal is continuously transferred from the read out circuit unit to the processing unit after the second signal.
3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the drive circuit unit simultaneously supplies a drive signal to the N drive wirings in the first area at the first read out operation and simultaneously supplies the drive signal to the M drive wirings in the second area at the second read out operation.
4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the read out circuit unit reads out a signal from the N signal wirings in the first area at the first read out operation and reads out a signal from to the M signal wirings in the second area at the second read out operation.
5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processing unit generates an image signal for one image using the first and the second signal.
6. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising a control unit for controlling the drive circuit unit and/or the read out circuit unit, wherein the control unit supplies a first control signal causing the drive circuit unit and/or the read out circuit unit to perform the first read out operation and a second control signal causing the drive circuit unit and/or the read out circuit unit to perform the second read out operation to the drive circuit unit and/or the read out circuit unit.
7. The imaging apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the drive circuit unit comprises a plurality of drive circuits and the control unit supplies the first control signal to the drive circuits connected to the drive wirings in the first area and the second control signal to the drive circuits connected to the drive wirings in the second area.
8. The imaging apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the read out circuit unit comprises a plurality of read out circuits and the control unit supplies the first control signal to the read out circuits connected to the signal wirings in the first area and the second control signal to the read out circuits connected to the signal wirings in the second area.
9. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the conversion element includes a wavelength converter convening incident radiation into light and a photoelectric conversion element convening light from the wavelength converter into electric charge.
10. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the drive circuit unit and the read out circuit unit continuously perform the first and the second read out operation during two consecutive radiations out of plural radiations of the radiation or light and after the period when signals are read out from all pixels in the area sensor.
11. A method of driving an imaging apparatus, wherein the imaging apparatus comprises: an area sensor in which a plurality of pixels are arranged in a matrix, the pixels including conversion elements for converting incident radiation or light into electric charge; a drive circuit unit for supplying a drive signal to a plurality of drive wirings arranged in a column direction, wherein each of the drive wirings is connected commonly to a plurality of pixels arranged in a row direction; a read out circuit unit for reading out signals from the pixels through a plurality of signal wirings arranged in the row direction, wherein each of the signal wirings is connected commonly to the plurality of pixels arranged in the column direction; and a processing unit processing signals transferred from the read out circuit unit, wherein N is an integer of one or more, M is an integer of two or more and always greater than N, the drive circuit unit and the read out circuit unit perform a first operation in which signals are simultaneously read out from N pixels in a first area of the area sensor and a second operation in which signals are simultaneously read out from M pixels in a second area except the first area of the area sensor, the first and the second read out operations are continuously performed in a period while signals for one frame are read out from pixels of the area sensor, and a first signal obtained by the first read out operation and a second signal obtained by the second read out operation are continuously transferred from the read out circuit unit to the processing unit.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
June 19, 2007
April 7, 2009
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